When I saw that this book was perfect for people who liked Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill, I knew I had to read it. But in the end, the book didn't catch my attention and wasn't for me.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I thought the idea of the story was really good with two people coming together while separately dealing with the grief of losing the person they shared, but I don't think it was executed that well.

I didn't really like any of the characters, except Grant, who isn't even a main character in this book! We learn early on that Lily has died suddenly at 18 and from there the story of Olivia (Lily's best friend), Will (Lily's ex-boyfriend) and Ben (Will's older brother) begins and none of them are nice people but at least Ben spent 2yrs away to try and sort himself out with therapy.

We also learn really early on that Lily is not a nice person, she puts Olivia down at every opportunity and makes her feel inferior most of the time. As she's dead, she can't really defend her actions but it does come out later that Olivia idealised Lily a lot and that wouldn't have been easy for Lily to deal with and at the same time, Olivia probably wasn't the greatest friend to Lily either. I think overall their friendship was pretty toxic.

When Lily died, Olivia took it pretty hard and the only person who could help her was Will. But Will was dealing with losing Lily as well, he loved her even though that wasn't returned and Lily had broken his heart not long before she died so he was never able to get any closure. I think this is what pushed him to get together with Olivia, someone who shares his grief (even though Olivia has no idea they dated) and something to focus on that wasn't his own pain.

But Will was a really shitty boyfriend, constantly cheating on Olivia, treating her badly with the way he spoke to her and acted towards her. Their relationship was also toxic and never should have carried on as long as it did but they both used it as an excuse not to think about Lily.

Then Ben comes back into their lives and while he has been working on himself, his toxic relationship with his brother reignites and he sets out to take everything from him - the basketball captaincy, his friends and his girlfriend.

Basically this whole story is about toxic relationships and I'm not convinced that Olivia and Ben's relationship is this fated, meant to be kind of love story. I think the way they got together immediately after Olivia broke up with Will, but not before they got close to each other, was a really bad way to start a relationship. Then there's the fact that Ben lied to Olivia just like everyone else was doing and seemed more consumed by his own feelings that actually helping Olivia overcome her own emotional baggage.

Some bits were really sweet but this is most definitely a Shakespearian tragedy with somewhat of a happy ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and PS Published for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

DNF @ 25%

I was really trying to push through, but I couldn't look past certain things anymore. I was so excited to read a college basketball romance, I feel like it's hard to find those. The blatant misogyny from the main character directed at Gen was extremely off-putting. The comments Olivia would make both internally and aloud were rude. I understand that Gen was throwing herself at Will, but that doesn't excuse Olivia's behavior. Also, Will is just a straight up asshole. That is supposed to be a plot point because obviously Olivia breaks up with him to get with his brother, but damn was Will mean. No man should ever treat a woman like that and then call her dramatic for getting upset. The fact that Olivia just let it keep happening was sad to see. The last thing that bothered me is the fact that this is boyfriend's older brother. I was a bit hesitant going into this regarding that, but wasn't going to let that stop me. However, Olivia is fully daydreaming about Ben while hanging out with Will and that made me uncomfortable. I don't think Olivia would cheat on Will, but I have an underlying suspicion that Will was cheating on her. Either way, I don't enjoy the cheating trope.

Despite my issues with this novel, I may read the sequel, because I do love Grant's character and I feel like there is more to him that we don't see in Astor Hill.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sydney Madison for the e-ARC of this!

✨ Publication date: February 7, 2025✨

Astor Hill is the first book in a new adult college book series by Sydney Madison.

Olivia and her best friend Lily attend one of their first college parties. After they leave and head back to their dorm, something isn’t quite right with Lily and she ends up passing away.

In a fog of grief, Olivia finds comfort in the arms of Will, the college basketball star. They spend 2 years in a somewhat tumultuous relationship not ready to call it quits but not fully invested.

Will’s brother Ben comes back to school after a two year hiatus and mental health break. He remembers Olivia from the party the night Lily died. He felt a connection with her then and is drawn to her now.

Will and Olivia finally call it quits which opens the door for Ben but there are slot of secrets between the three of them, including how the brothers really know Lily.

This was steamy and very angsty. I liked the writing but wasn’t particularly fond of any of the characters. Olivia was self centred and a true popular girl personified. Will was an utter jerk and while Ben was the best of them, he still had his character challenges.

This was a 3 star read for me! I would read the next book to see how the author continues to develop her writing and characters.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #sydneymadison #astorhill

This book was pure, messy FUN... I couldn’t put it down! Astor Hill is packed with all the drama you could want: love, heartbreak, revenge, envy, secrets. I was here for it.

Is it a little predictable? Sure. Was the writing style pretty simple and a little surface-level at times? Definitely. But honestly, when the story is this addictive, I didn’t even mind that much. I loved the slow burn, the dual POVs, and the chaos of the relationships (even when I wanted to shake the characters).

I will say I craved more depth... more development behind all the toxicity. And there were a few noticeable typos that broke the flow a bit. But overall, this was such a bingeable, entertaining read that I’m already counting down to book 2.

If you love messy love triangles, scandalous secrets, and fast, drama-packed reads, this one is going to be your next obsession.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I could not put it down. Yes it's very predictable and yes it's giving very much "gossip girl" vibes but I'm a sucker for a good love story and love triangle, especially when it's written this well and intriguing! Astor Hill has it all; love, heartbreak, envy, revenge and lots of secrets! Cannot wait for book 2!

This book was toxic which shouldve made for a good read, but instead fell very flat for me. The forbidden brother trope was building to something at first, and shortly into the book its like the author didnt know how to grow the plot or arc in a good way. The plot had alot of holes and unexplained feelings. The FMC took way too much from Will if you ask me. I really wanted to like this, I love the cover, but its a hard 3 stars for me.

This was a cute read for me

Astor Hill follows Olivia who loses her best friend at their first college party.
After that Olivia finds comfort in Will (& honestly I didn’t get good vibes from him) anyways they start dating and of course he’s an a’hole boyfriend always making her doubt herself and feel less..
Anyways the mysterious BEN comes back to Astor Hill and let me tell you I freaking loved BEN!!
He’s Wills older brother and he has a secret of his own
(That whole drama there between them was good)
At the end of the story I’m glad Olivia found and realized her worth 🫶🏻

3.5 star read for me.

I was really drawn in by the cover and the blurb, but Astor Hill just didn’t quite work for me. I struggled to stay engaged which made the book feel much longer than it actually is. This book had such high hopes which is why I am so sad I didn't like it.

Astor Hill by Sydney Maddison is a story of covering grief, toxic love, and healing. After losing her best friend, Olivia is pulled into a destructive relationship—until Ben, her toxic boyfriend’s brother, helps her rediscover her worth. Honest and emotional, the novel explores how pain can shape us, and how love can help us heal.

Unfortunately for me, the toxicity of the book was too messy. As someone who loved magnolia parks & Astor hill being described for fans of that series I feel it does not live up to the same level.

Thankyou NetGalley & Sydney Madison duo for allowing me an early copy

If you're craving something that blends the luxe drama of Gossip Girl with the emotional depth of a coming-of-age romance, Astor Hill is your next must-read.

When Olivia loses her lifelong best friend, Lily, at their very first college party, she finds herself lost—until Will enters the picture. Their relationship is passionate, chaotic, and often leaves Olivia questioning her self-worth. But everything shifts with the return of Ben, Will’s older brother, whose calm presence and unwavering support slowly begin to rewrite the way Olivia sees herself.

From the campus gossip and fashion flair to deeper themes of healing and self-discovery, Astor Hill balances it all with a pace that keeps you flipping pages late into the night. And yes, the romance? It’s sweet, patient, and oh-so-swoony. Definitely a must add to your TBR!

More than just a love story, Astor Hill dives deep into the messy layers of grief, identity, and the pressure of perfection. It’s about the people we lose, the versions of ourselves we bury with them, and the unexpected ways we come back to life.

Olivia Beckett is a protagonist who’s equal parts polished and haunted-a girl who once had a blueprint for the perfect college life, only to watch it crumble in a single tragic night. Now, two years later, she’s built a new version of herself: sharp, driven, and in control. But when Ben Cabot- the brooding, magnetic basketball star with a checkered past- returns to Astor Hill, her carefully balanced world starts to unravel.

Ben is every bit the morally gray, emotionally complicated love interest you want in a story like this: unpredictable, wounded, and disarmingly charming. His chemistry with Olivia crackles from the page, and their push-pull dynamic is both intoxicating and excruciating in the best way.

This is a story that doesn’t flinch from pain but still manages to be impossibly romantic. It’s glamorously tragic, heartbreakingly real, and will leave you turning pages long into the night. For fans of angst, beautiful disaster boys, and girl heroines who refuse to be written off—Astor Hill is a must-read. Just bring tissues.

Here for the drama! These characters are a bit of a mess but I mean the first couple (or all) years of college usually are. We are dealing with grief and loss in this one and that only adds to all the things. But um hello? Boyfriend’s brother?? 🍿🙋🏻‍♀️ Here for it. This has all the makings of teen dramas of the early 2000’s and I love it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Astor Hill was a roller coaster of a read, full of ups and downs, both in the story and in my overall enjoyment. The premise was intriguing, and I generally enjoy a toxic romance, but this one felt messy for the sake of being messy, rather than having real emotional depth behind it.

The book is a slow burn with a dual POV, which I always appreciate, but the writing style was quite simple and, at times, felt surface level. I never fully connected with the characters or their dynamic, which made it harder to invest in their toxicity. There were also some noticeable errors in the writing that pulled me out of the story.

Overall, it was a decent read, but I wanted more, more development, more depth, and more reason behind the chaos. If you like messy relationships and don’t mind a more straightforward writing style, you might enjoy this, but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me.

Astor Hill was a sweet little romance that hits right in the high school nostalgia. I know it's a college romance, but it read more like a slightly updated high school romance. Still works well, and is a great read!

If you love college romances with a splash of elite level Gossip Girl vibes and a bit of sports too, then this one’s for you.

Olivia, a freshman dealing with the loss of her best friend, meets her toxic boyfriend's (Will) older brother when he returns to campus. Enter Ben, the older brother, brings a whole layer of tension and drama to Olivia’s messy world. The brother against brother dynamic is a tough one to navigate, the author did a decent job, but I will say miscommunication is one of my biggest annoyances in a story and I feel some healthy communication would have made this book a 5 star read for me.

The book dives into some important topics like grief, verbal abuse, and anxiety, I think the author handled them well. It’s a quick, easy read but still manages to pack in a lot of emotion. I love a dual POV narration and it was a highlight for me. I love getting inside both main characters’ heads, and it made me feel even more invested in their story.

Overall, Astor Hill is a solid read—romantic, angsty, and has the HEA we are all after.

This book has the same vibes as Gossip Girl!! I love a messy main character and the lover boy, Ben, is everything!!! It is so easy to read, I binged it an afternoon!! I even picked it up as a Galentine’s Day present for some girlfriends!

This was a cute quick read. It follows a FMC who is at college in Astor Hill and is torn between the MMC and his long lost brother. I gave it 4/5 stars.

If you're into Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill, Astor Hill is totally up your alley. It’s packed with drama, a college romance, and, of course, unhealthy relationships (because, hello, rich kids). 👱🏼‍♀️🏫👱🏻‍♂️💸 Olivia’s been through a lot in the past two years. Then Ben shows up the sweet, green flag guy who’s kinda obsessed with her... but here’s the plot twist: she’s dating his brother. This book has ALL the drama. At some points, I even found myself questioning if it was too much and this is coming from a Gossip Girl fan, so you know that’s saying something! If you've ever watched Gossip Girl, you know exactly how crazy the drama gets, 🤣🤣. Also, trigger warning: there’s cheating, so if that’s not your thing, maybe sit this one out. Overall, I’m not really sure how I feel about Astor Hill (I keep accidentally calling it Astor Prep for some reason 🤦🏻‍♀️). I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either, so I’m kind of confused. The drama was definitely there, which I loved, but sometimes it felt like it overshadowed the actual story. This is the author’s debut novel, and it’s got a lot of potential. The plot is really engaging, and the characters are interesting, though I think it just needs a little work. Overall, it’s a solid start, and I’m definitely curious to see what else this author comes out with. Even though I wasn’t totally in love with this one, I’m hoping her next book could be my favorite. Also, the cover is what really made me pick this up it’s perfect and definitely drew me in!

⚠️ I was gifted an ARC courtesy of the author and this is my honest opinion.